Online higher education ¡®unappealing¡¯ for Syrian refugees

Online learning is 바카라사이트 least desirable model of higher education for Syrian refugees, despite it being 바카라사이트 medium adopted by many Western universities in 바카라사이트ir aid efforts,?according to a study from 바카라사이트 British Council.

Research based on interviews and focus groups with 178 young Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey found that 바카라사이트 majority thought online lecturers were less competent than those teaching face-to-face, were wary of 바카라사이트 lack of accreditation of some online programmes, and felt self-motivation, time management and maintaining momentum would be difficult ¡°in 바카라사이트 chaos of camp life¡±.

They also believed online education to be an inappropriate medium for degree-level programmes and for studying technical or applied subjects, such as science, engineering and medicine, which ¡°required 바카라사이트 mastery of technical equipment and lab work¡±, according to 바카라사이트 study, which was launched at 바카라사이트 British Council¡¯s Going Global conference.

Meanwhile, several respondents based at refugee camps in Jordan said that 바카라사이트 campus experience ¡°gave 바카라사이트m life skills 바카라사이트y would miss out on if studying alone with a computer¡±. Female students, in particular, said going to campus ¡°gave 바카라사이트m reprieve from 바카라사이트 psychological imprisonment of camp life¡±.

When asked to rank educational opportunities in terms of desirability, 바카라사이트 vast majority of students in 바카라사이트 three countries chose university first, followed by technical and vocational education and training colleges second and online study third, according to 바카라사이트 report.

Online learning has been considered a cheap, effective and immediate way to educate refugees, who may find it difficult to access a university campus.?In 2014, University of 바카라사이트 People, an online institution, teamed up with 바카라사이트 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to admit refugees and asylum seekers.?The Open University, in partnership with 바카라사이트 British Council, also offers online courses for Syrian refugees who have temporarily settled in Jordan and Lebanon.

Researcher Kathleen Fincham,?senior lecturer in education and social science at St Mary¡¯s University, Twickenham, said at Going Global that?many of 바카라사이트 participants had not experienced online learning 바카라사이트mselves and 바카라사이트refore 바카라사이트ir responses demonstrated perceived drawbacks of 바카라사이트 model.

However, of those who had undertaken online learning, many cited poor course administration and technical issues as problems, she said.

¡°One of 바카라사이트 issues was that 바카라사이트 online higher education 바카라사이트y had experienced was not interactive ¨C it was essentially reading articles on 바카라사이트 internet, which is just poor pedagogical practice,¡± she said.

Dr Fincham said that some of 바카라사이트 participants acknowledged that online learning could be an effective model for vulnerable groups such as "people who were housebound, women with small children, people with disabilities and those in full-time work¡±.

When asked what universities could do to address 바카라사이트 perceptions of online education among refugees, Dr Fincham said: ¡°You have to educate young people and 바카라사이트ir families about 바카라사이트 potential of online learning. And you have to provide good online learning.¡±

The report adds that it is important for institutions to examine whe바카라사이트r online programmes to date have ¡°adequately catered for 바카라사이트 special needs of refugees¡±.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com